Replies

1. 
   BenM | Nov 26, 2008 11:56pm | #1

   I don't have first hand experience but FWW (Issue 45) did have an article about making one in a general sort of way.  I have attached it in case you are interested.

   
1. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:10pm | #16

   Ben:  Thanks for you reply.  I am sure it will be helpful.

   MIKE EDWARDS

2. 
   joinerswork | Nov 27, 2008 02:06am | #2

   Mike,

   I built a bombe chest on chest several years ago. I'll be glad to try and answer any questions you might have.

   http://www.davidraypine.com/portfolio.php?spgmGal=Chests_and_Cabinets&spgmPic=3&spgmFilters=#pic

   Ray

1. 
   Biscardi | Nov 27, 2008 06:26am | #4

   Wow!

   That is really lovely.

   Frank

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 27, 2008 06:39am | #5

   Thanks Frank.

   It was a chore.  That piece represents a third of a year of my life.  I got the flu in the midst of making the base drawers.  I'd plane a spell, and sit and rest a spell, til I got them shaped.

   Ray

2. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:01pm | #14

   Hi Ray:

   Thanks for your generous offer.  I am very impressed with the photos of your projects.  They are beautiful.  I am intimidated.

   Yesterday I learned of a source for measured drawings and photos that a fellow member of The Society of American Period Furniture Makers is offering.  I have e-mailed the Member, Ed Suckey, and have requested a copy of all he has.  I won't bother you further until I learn what kind of package Mr. Stuckey is offering.  Thank you again, I hope to be in contact with you in the future.

   MIKE EDWARDS

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 30, 2008 06:44pm | #26

   Mike,

   Good luck with your project.  Just ask away if you get to a sticking place, and I'll try to help.

   Ray

1. 
   MikeEd | Nov 30, 2008 09:15pm | #29

   Ray:

   Thank you for your willingness to help.  I'll be in contact as the project take on life.

    

   MIKE EDWARDS

3. 
   philip | Nov 28, 2008 07:26am | #21

   Ray,
   That is delightful. Are you in comms with the owner still?
   On a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rate that one for challenge/difficulty and on a similar scale where would you rate the enjoyment/satisfaction factor?
   How about showing a picture or two of whatever piece you are working on right now?Philip Marcou

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 30, 2008 07:10pm | #27

   Thank you philip,

   Remarkably, that piece belongs to my brother, and we are still on speaking terms ;-)

   I guess that means

   a) that it wasn't the project from hell, and

   b) it didn't fall apart after a year. Actually it has been quite a few years now.

   The challenges began with acquiring the stock for those bellied out ends.  I had some stock custom sawed, and dried.  That turned out to be a mistake, as it wasn't uniformly dry-the center of my planks was moister than the outsides, and they warped when I wasted away the excess.  It was nip and tuck flattening them after they stabilised, and having them be thick enough for the job.

   Technically, probably the fussiest job was cutting the joints for the drawer blades or divides in the base.  The belly begins near the bottom of the 2d drawer.  The blades are dovetailed into the ends, and the drawer openings are framed with a stuck (not applied) cock-bead.  Fitting the tails to their sockets, and mitering the self-beads at the same time was a tricky bit of work, mainly due to the goofy angles where they met.   The angled dovetails of the drawers I had done before, anyway they are just a matter of sawing tot he line, just not  square to the ends.  Most of the rest is just grunt work, wasting away the stock to the line.  The top half is just like building ant highboy or chest on chest.  A few dovetails, a little carving, a pair of curved moldings and some other gew-gaws, and there you are. The enjoyment diminished with the completion of the potbelly, that being the novelty for me, satisfaction was right up there, I still steal into the master bedroom when I visit my brother, just for a peek at the great beast.  All that brass down the front makes for a show.

   The ones with serpentine drawer fronts would be more of a job; also, saw a picture of one with block-front, and lipped drawers.  That would be a pain.

   Currently, I am in the midst of refinishing a reproduction Empire -style corner cabinet.  Not much of a show really.  I'll send you some pics of my next project when I get into it, an Art Noveau bench with carved cabriole, er , scuttle, legs and aprons festooned with swoopy vines and flowers, mate to an existing settee.

   Ray 

    

3. 
   PCM | Nov 27, 2008 04:36am | #3

   Mike,

   The Society for American Period Furniture, http://www.sapfm.com, had a detailed design and construction description of one made by one of their members. I don't see it on their frontpage, but you might contact them.

   FWW 198 had an article on the commission the IRION Co. received from a high roller. Included in the article is a bombe chest-on-chest.

   I hope you don't compromise during the design and construction of this classic piece! Please send pictures. Good luck.

   Pete

   http://www.sapfm.org will work

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/27/2008 9:26 am ET by PCM

1. 
   Fotze | Nov 27, 2008 01:09pm | #9

   Link doesn't work, unless your oriental, and even at that I don't know what country it is

1. 
   AdamCherubini | Nov 27, 2008 05:14pm | #11

   sapfm is a dot org

1. 
   PCM | Nov 27, 2008 05:27pm | #12

   You are of course right!

   And I almost made it through the year without making a mistake!

   thanks.

   Pete

2. 
   PCM | Nov 27, 2008 05:30pm | #13

   http://www.sapfm.org will work.Thanks.

   Pete

2. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:05pm | #15

   PETE:  Thanks for your reply.  I am aware of the sources you suggest.

   MIKE EDWARDS

3. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:22pm | #18

   Dear PCM:

   No compromises, ever!

   MIKE EDWARDS

4. 
   Floss | Nov 27, 2008 06:55am | #6

   Are you going to make it serpentine as well?

   The SAPFM article is a pretty good start.

   If you need some tips let me know.

   Here is one I made.

   F.

   
1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 27, 2008 07:06am | #7

   Floss,

   Nice work.  I like the backswept talons on the feet.

   Ray

1. 
   Floss | Nov 27, 2008 07:44am | #8

   Thank you.You are quite perceptive.It was my tip of the hat to the Boston cabinetmakers of the day.If I have a chance I would love to build one like yours.I really like the straight top two drawers with the bulging bottom two.It's very Dutch.F.

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 30, 2008 07:16pm | #28

   Floss,

   Actually the swell or flare begins just near the bottom of the 2d drawer.  Just enough to make it not be straightforward.  Not unlike a queen anne chair crest, where the "shoulder" begins just at the top of the rear stile, and isn't all in the crest rail.

   Ray

1. 
   johnjesseph | Dec 01, 2008 02:58am | #30

   Mr. Joiner-

   I believe Floss' post is referring to Floss' own pic of his/her chest of drawers...

    

   I decided to move the bombe' up the list, might start one this spring...

2. 
   joinerswork | Dec 01, 2008 05:37pm | #31

   john,

   You may be right.

   Ray

2. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:13pm | #17

   Dear Floss.  ABSOLUTLEY.

   MIKE EDWARDS

3. 
   johnjesseph | Nov 29, 2008 09:20pm | #24

   Nice work, Floss!  I like the side profile also- not "necky" as some of them are (with the sides parallel along the top two drawers).

   How did you approach the inner case and drawer sides?

    

1. 
   Floss | Nov 30, 2008 04:39am | #25

   The case sides are curved and the drawer sides to match. That is most of the work in building the whole piece. Lots of trial and error with the fit.I actually like both styles of the bombe form that you find in the American made pieces. However, when the curve starts with the second drawer it tends to soften the shape a little which works well when you have a serpentine front too.I like the "neckiness" as well. Kinda looks like a round-bottom flask if you sliced it down the middle.F.

5. 
   rwdare | Nov 27, 2008 05:08pm | #10

   There is an article on building a serpentine bombe chest in The Best of Fine Woodworking - Period Furniture which will explain most of what you need to know.

   Dick

1. 
   MikeEd | Nov 27, 2008 08:24pm | #19

   RWADARE:

   Thanks!

   MIKE EDWARDS

6. 
   rdasilva | Nov 27, 2008 09:13pm | #20

   Talk to this fellow...

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG5xwTD7iac
   http://www.antiquesbuiltdaily.com/

7. 
   johnjesseph | Nov 29, 2008 05:23pm | #22

   Hi Mike;

   I don't have first hand experience building a Bombe chest, but I do have some questions for you...

   Are you planning a serpentine facade, or straight facade?  And do you plan case conforming drawer sides or straight drawer sides?  Here is a link to a pic of a Bombe chest of drawers with serpentine facade, case conforming drawer sides, and ball and claw feet.  I saw this one step by step as it was being built- pretty cool piece.  I hope to make one next year, but my to do list is pretty long and not much time for the shop. 

   http://www.randallodonnell.com/2008photos/bombe2008.html

   For others following the thread, I bet the SAPFM plans are pretty good.  You need to be a member to buy them, otherwise very great price.  Alan Breed sells plans, and I think Robert Whitely did too.

   The journal American Furniture had a great article on Bombe furniture, I think you can link to the text from the http://www.chipstone.org website and search for it...

1. 
   MikeEd | Nov 29, 2008 08:20pm | #23

   Dear John:

   Thanks for your reply.  In answer to your questions, let me say that what I plan to built is represented by your attached photo.

   MIKE EDWARDS